1.   And Liberal Democrats treasury spokesman Alan Beith, MP for Berwick, said he is confident of a surge in support for his party.

2.   And opposition treasury spokesman Peter Costello said last week that if the government can do it, the coalition can do better.

3.   Beazley also indicated he may favor his deputy, former foreign minister, Gareth Evans, as treasury spokesman.

4.   A treasury department spokesman said that no approval had been given to the deal, and that it was still under active review.

5.   Still, while inflation is seen moderating, Australian prices remain high by international standards, opposition treasury spokesman Peter Costello said.

6.   Treasury spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said there is no time frame for resolving the issue.

7.   Treasury spokesman Dwight Robson declined to comment on the bidding process.

8.   Opposition treasury spokesman Gareth Evans said Australians did not believe the government was protecting them from the impact of the Asian crisis.

9.   Prime Minister Tony Blair is seeking to railroad Britain into adopting a single European currency, the treasury spokesman of the opposition Conservative Party said Thursday.

10.   Gordon Brown, treasury spokesman for the opposition Labor Party, accused the government of being complacent in the past about the need for tighter regulation.